Friday, 29 November 2013

Thanksgiving | Care Package from UK

Sam, my adopted sister, sent me a box-full of beauty products some time last month - I guess, 'cause my sense of time has not yet been regained since a few weeks before my wedding... - and here I am, showing/boasting what I've got and perhaps a few first impression words.

For your information, the weather is COLD here now in HK, at a freezing 12-15 °C daytime with sunlight. My fingers and rest of my body aren't functioning at optimum performance. Typo is unavoidable. Also, still figuring out the best spot with natural lighting chez Jacq to take pictures at. Excuse the lighting/shading situation for the time being.

Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss is my first ever acquisition in the Bobbi Lip Department - yes I'm that late - and I'm positively impressed. This gives a high shine, diamond-like shimmer finish on the lips, while leaving lips considerably moiturised and very comfortable. This shade "Pink Sequin" is very eye catching and out in the sun, it blinds like no other. Save it for the night, perhaps?

MAC Prep + Prime Line Filler is a silicon-type filler for camouflaging lines and wrinkles. Tested it on the back of my hands and it seems promising. MAC Lustre Lipstick "Plink!" is a giveaway prize Sam picked up for me (supposed to be the item she'd send me, only). She let me pick the shade myself, but I ask her to decide for me. I'm torn between a bright statement matte, or an everyday pretty pink. The one she sent is definitely the latter.

As we started with make up, let me continue by singing praises for these MUA Blush Perfection Cream Blusher. Sam got me two of the brightest colours, "Scrummy" and "Lush". Both work perfectly fine and fulfilling during my Samui holiday. The tropical trip was san-brushes (except one brow brush), so I applied this with my finger tips and blended out with the-cushion-like-thumb-muscle-at-the-lower-part-of-the-palm (is it clear enough?).

I wrote about why I didn't like the Collection (2000) Lasting Perfection Concealer, in this same shade, before. I decided to give this another go, because, why not? And I think I have changed my mind about it. Sam got me "1 Fair" which is too pale on me for two-third of the year, but now is the time I can attempt to wear this alone. It doesn't hurt though, to pick up a "2 Light" at Boots in Thailand, when I saw it. Colour-wise "2" is too pink and dark definitely, but mixed with "1" can serve me year-round. Texture-wise, it feels less drying than I remembered, probably due to two reasons, I am taking better care of my skin, and/or the previous tube I got was dried out a bit. Coverage-wise it is high, spots are not 100% concealed, but close to 90%. The staying power is amazing too; set with my compact it lasted all day under stormy weather.

Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint "001 Pop of Pink" is a medium light pink with a coral hue. Only swatched it once and all I can say it it has a very strong fragrance. Easy to blend, too.

Moving onto skin care, I remember asking Sam to help me hunt down the NSpa Hot Cloth Polish after hearing it from A Model Recommends. Not only do I find it in the mail, but along with other NSpa bits, Melting Cleansing Gel, Illuminating Beauty Serum and Brightening Day Cream. How exciting!

(not pictured) Ren sample kit with Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel, Vita Mineral Day Cream, and Frankincense ACA Revitalising Night Cream. Brought with me to Thailand and will be used up soon, talk more in upcoming empties!

Balance Me Moisture-Rich Face Cream, haven't opened yet. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer is supposed to be a good hair treatment, haven't used that yet either. Nip + Fab 365 Body Glow Fix adds colour to the body; I'm generally anti-sun-exposure and anti-tan (on me, only), so I have already gifted this to my sister who always want to look a bit more tan (and she's always fairer than I am, envy).